Skateboard Shoe Reviews: Moogan, Reynolds 3, and Grasshopper

This article is a brief description of some of the best skate shoes I have owned. I've skated for several years, and I have a particular style and comfort shoe that I look to purchase. I will judge shoes in three categories: comfort, skate-ability, and price-quality ratio. By price-quality ratio, I mean the overall value of the shoe compared to it's price. Expensive shoes are not always comfortable; stylish shoes are not always skateable.

As always with skateboarding, your own personal judgment and decisions are the ones that are the most important. You have your own style, your own feet, and your own sense. So, be an "individual" and take my reviews with a grain of salt.

First off, the Nike 6.0 Air Moogans. My guilty pleasure! I truly enjoy this shoe for skating. I know some people would describe Nike as a horrible corporation without concern for the skaters, or the local skateshops, and for this I feel guilty. However, don't forget that the company Savier, which younger skaters may not remember, was purchased by Nike and subsequently, the shoes from Savier's production and manufacturing teams are now Nike.

Savier shoes were amazing devices! Somehow I could ollie higher and the Saviers lasted for months on end without heel damage, or holes in the ollie-patch near my front pinky-toe.

The Nike 6.0 Air Moogans felt good while skating. They provide pretty stable support for my feet; and the grips on the bottom lasted several months before becoming unskate-able. However, despite being a good skate shoe, the Moogans were hella uncomfortable. My feet felt like I was unbalanced walking around. They squeezed my arches in weird places. Uncomfortable, but good for skating.

I like the colors on these shoes, they appeal to my eyes. I might buy the Moogans if they have a good colorway, they are relatively inexpensive.

Nike 6.0 Air Moogans (around $60, various stores everywhere)
COMFORT: 2/5
SKATE-ABILITY: 5/5
PRICE VS. QUALITY: 4/5

Next, I will review the Emerica Reynolds 3. I'm actually wearing a pair of Reynold's 3 right now. These are by far some of the best skate shoes I have owned.

Emerica shoes never seems to do me wrong; Emericas are always comfortable, always skateable, and always stylish.

These Reynolds are suede, with a bit of ankle support and simple design. I highly recommend these shoes! In fact, buy a bunch. Let's put Andrew Reynold's kids through college with the residuals from these shoes.
(They came with a little metal shoelace stud that I threw in the trash. What is that thing for? It doesn't help me skate.)

When skating, the grip is similar to a Vans-style flat shoe. However, the Reynolds have a lot more support for the tongue and the heel area. These shoes don't feel flat, they feel very supple. On a skateboard, I like shoes with a little more width in the front for kick flips. These shoes are amazing and I would definitely buy a pair again.

Emerica Reynolds 3 (around $50, skateshops and specialty stores)
COMFORT: 5/5
SKATE-ABILITY: 5/5
PRICE VS. QUALITY: 5/5

Next, let's talk about the IPATH Grasshopper. I love the concept of an all-natural, hippie free love skate company.

However, much like hippies, IPATH can be all ideas, style and no substance. These shoes have strengths: good board control, kick-flip width, heel and ankle support.

However, the IPATH grasshopper with one major flaw to discuss. I agree that hemp should be used in manufacture; I agree that the environment is important. I agree in free love and all the typical left-wing angsty stuff. However, one thing I will not stand for is crappy skate shoes.

The IPATH Grasshopper is great looking, skates well, and has great comfort '" but hit-or-miss quality. My pair fell apart after one month of skating. I skate in the city, usually one or two hours a day. I'm pretty rough with my shoes and I need shoes that will stand up to ball torture. And by that I mean, ball of the foot torture.

So, these are nice shoes, but they are expensive for the quality. I can't afford to buy new IPATHs every month, I'm a poor skater, not some trustafarian.

IPATH Grasshopper (around $80, skateshops and specialty stores)

COMFORT: 5/5
SKATE-ABILITY: 5/5
PRICE VS. QUALITY: 2/5

To summarize, I think that two issues stick out. Skating will destroy your shoes, and most people cannot afford to buy a new pair of skate shoes after every session.

The price of a skate shoe should justify its' durability. There is no point in buying shoes that will not last for more than a few sessions.Secondly, I am certainly in favor of buying products that support your favorite skaters. Understand that 95% of professional skaters do not make much money; they may not be able to pay for medical insurance, they usually live very meagerly and skate eight hours a day. Therefore, the connection between a
consumer buying skateshoes and the skater is directly intimate.

Your money goes as directly as possible to the skaters you love. Other sports do not have this connection as intimately. You're not paying for a pro-basketball player's burrito or rent with residual income. With a skater, you are paying their bills by buying their product.

So, throw your money at the people you love and they will throw more love back at you.